Pickling tank structure



June 2L H338. J. A. CLAUSE ET AL PICKLING TANK STRUCTURE Filed May 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l www @mi 5. .4 .5. Rsr Y 05;, E @i m ,N aL/mf 5.

June 21, 1938. .1. A. cLAuss ET A1.

PICKLING TANK STRUCTURE 2 sheets-,sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1937 Patented im 21,1938 2,121,139v

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE PICKLING TANK STRCTURE Julius A. Clauss, Detroit, and Donald E. McGuire, Wyandotte, Mich., assigner-s to Great Lakes Steel Corporation, Ecorse, Mich., a cor.- poration oi' Delaware Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,074

6 Claims. (Cl. 2667) This invention relates to pickling tank strucand in which like numerals refer to like parts tures and particularly to pickling tanks of the. throughout the several diilerent views, continuous type wherein a plurality of such tanks Figure 1V is a fragmentary, partially broken, are arranged in generally end to end relationship vertical sectional view taken centrally and longiand the steel tobe pickled is moved continuously tudinally through a series of pickling, rinsing' from tank to tank in Wire, rod, or strip form, the and/or like tanks arranged in end toend relaprincipal object being to provide a structure of tionship;

this type inwhich the `corrosive gases will be Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional View withdrawn from` over the tanks and discharged taken transversely of one of the tanks shown in at a remote point without contaminating the at- Fig. 1 as on the line 2-2 thereof; 10 mosphere of the room orbuilding in which'the Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View tanks are situated, and which will resist corrotaken transversely through the mechanism shown sion or like eiects of the pickling solutions and in Fig. 1 as on the line 3-3 thereof; vapors upon the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional View Objects of the invention include the provision on a slightly smaller scale than Fig. 3 and taken 15 of a new and novel form of apparatus for withas on the line I--l thereof; drawing the vapors tending to arise from pickling Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional tanks and discharging the vapors at a point review taken in the same plane as Fig. 3 and showmote therefrom; the provision of a construction ing a modified form of constructions.

30 as above described including vapor withdrawal Referring to the drawings, the licor of a build 20 ducts positioned between the ends of a pair of ing or room in which the pickling tanks aresituatpickling tanks and so constructed and arranged ed is indicated at I0 and asbeingprovidedwithtwo as to effectively cooperate with thel tanks and rows of piers I2 each of which below the correto resist corrosion by the vapors Withdrawn spending pickling tank supports at its top alongi- .25 therethrough; the provision of means for withtudinally extending I-beam I4. A plurality of 25 drawing the vapors from a plurality of pickling transversely extending I-beams I6 bridge the I- tanks arranged in end to end relationship includbeams Il and are arranged in relativelyclosely asing a longitudinal duct arranged below the picksociated relationship so asto provideasubstantialling tank and so constructed as to drainl liquid ly continuous support fcrapickling tank indicated therethrough in one direction ,and to withdraw generally at i8 restingthereon. Asisunderstoodby` 30 vapors or gases therethrough inthe opposite dithose skilled in the art where pickling tanks are rection, in combination with branch ducts exarranged for the continuous pickling of sheet or tending therefrom intermediate the adjacent strip steel a number of these tanks are arranged ends of adjacent tanks with their upper end porin line and in generally spaced relationship and tions co-operating with the upper marginal walls means are provided for drawing the strip stock of the ends of the tanks so as to withdraw lcorcontinuously through the pickling solution which rosive vapors therefrom; the provision of a conis contained in these tanks. Generally from two struction as above described in which means arel to six and usually four such pickling tanks are provided for variably controlling the volume of arranged in series and at their discharge end one gases withdrawn through each of the branch or morerinse tanks for rinsing the pickling solu- 40 ducts; and the provision of a construction as tion from the strip stock are positioned in line x above described in which the tanks and ducts are with the pickling tanks.V Usually the pickling formed from sheet metal and provided with a tanks are in the neighborhood of sixty feet long rubber or like coating on all of those surfaces with an effective depth of from two and one-half thereof which are liable to come into contact to four and one-half feet and of sufficient width 45 `with the corrosive vapors surrounding or being to take the widest sheets that it is intended'to withdrawn from the pickling tanks. f pass through the tank. Generally these tanks The above being among the objects of the presare spaced from one another at their ends by a ent invention, the same consists in certain novel distance of two to three feet and suitable rolls features of construction and combinations of or other mechanism are provided above the ad- 50 parts to be hereinafter described with reference jacent Ends 0f adjacent tanks t0 SUDDOlt and to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, guide the strip stock over the end walls of the 4 having the above and other objects in view. tanks, the strip stock sagging between opposite In the accompanying drawings which illustrate ends of the tanks .so as tobe immersedI in the a suitable embodiment of the present invention pickling solution, rinse solution or the like con- 55 common practice to form such tanks of brick work and to seal the interior surfaces thereof against the penetration of the pickling acid solution by means of pitch or other like plastic sealing material. However, because of the length of such tanks brick tanks frequently crack and allow seepage and'leakage of the pickling solution out of the tank which not only has a tendency to foster early destruction of the tank and corrode metal parts with which it comes in contact but the fumes arising from such acid solution also acts to corrode any metal parts with which it contacts.

It has also been suggested in the past to provide hoods over the tanks and to provide means for ex-4 hausting air from the hoods whereby to eliminate to a great extent the presence of the'acid fumes from the room or building in which the tanks are located not only to better protect the health of the workmen engaged around the tanks, but also to prevent the corrosive effects of the acid fumes which otherwise would rise from the tanks and come in contact with various metallic parts throughout the building or room in which the tanks are located. The means provided for this purpose in the past, however, have been extremely conspicuous and thus detracted from the appearance of the tanks, they have taken up floor space which could otherwise be employed to advantage and have not been protected to a.

desirable extent against the corrosive effects of the vapors and pickling solution. The present invention is particularly designed to obviate the above described disadvantages of heretofore employed constructions.

Inasmuch as the rinse tanks employed in series with the pickling tanks are preferably of identically the same construction as the pickling tanks except perhaps in actual length or other dimensions, both the pickling tanks and rinse tanks will hereinafter be referred to as picklingr tanks, or simply as tanks, for simplicity of description, it being understood that in the following description certain of the problems cliscussed will be common to both pickling and rinse tanks, while some may apply only to the pickling tanks.

As indicated in the drawings the various tanks I8 are preferably formed from sheets or plates of metal, preferably steel, suitably reinforced where necessary or desirable, and welded into a unitary structure. In other words, each tank includes a bottom plate 20, side plates 22 and as indicated in Fig. 4 end plates 24. As indicated best in Fig. 2 a downwardly ppening channel member 26 Vis fixed to the outer face of and extends the full length of each side plate 22 with its upper surface in slightly downwardly spaced relation with respect to the upper edge of the corresponding plate 22. A smaller downwardly opening channel member 28 is secured in a corresponding position on the inner face of each side plate 22 and similarly extends the full length of the corresponding side plate 22. The channels 26 and 28 act to stifi'en the upper edge of the tank I8 and to prevent spreading thereof, butd such spreading may be further guarded against by the provision of buttress members 30 projecting .upwardly from the outer end portions of the various cross--channels I6 and in engagement with the outer faces of the side plates 22.

As best indicated in Fig. 4 the end plates 24 of each tank I8 are each provided with a strip or plate 32 of metal across its upper edge and tained within the tanks. In the past it has been which plate or strip extends the full length thereof. The plates 32 over-hang both the inner and outer faces of the corresponding end plates and are preferably tilted a slight amount downwardly toward the interior of the corresponding tank I8 as indicated.- The joints between each plate 32v and its corresponding end wall 24 may be reinforced if desired by. the provision of an angle member such as 34 fitted between the outer face of the corresponding end wall 24 and the underface of the outwardly projecting edge portion of the plate 32.

The inner surfaces of the bottom 20, sides 22 and ends 24 of each tank I8 are completely lined with a layer 36 of rubber which is suitably vulcanized, adhered, or otherwise secured to or against such surfaces so as to completely mask them. Along the sides as indicated in Fig. 2 the rubber lining 36' is extended inwardly around the channels 28, then upwardly and outwardly over them and then upwardly over the upper edges Iof the side plate 22 and down on the outside to the upper surface of the corresponding channel 26. At the ends the lining 36 is extended inwardly, then up and over the corresponding plate 32 to the extreme outer edge of the same. The extension of the lining 36 in this manner over the upper edge portion of the sides and ends of the tanks I8 is carried out so as to protect such edges against the action of corrosive vapors from the piekling solution which are liable to escape at such edges in spite of the fact that a large volume of air is withdrawn from the surface of the tanks in order to prevent such escape as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Additionally, the interior of each tank I8 is further provided with a lining 38 of material impervious or substantially impervious to the effects of the acid in the pickling solution. Ordinarily the lining 38 will be formed of brick work and it is provided for the purpose of preventing abrasion of the rubber lining 36 from the strip material being passed through the pickling solution in the tanks I8. It will thus be understood that each tank I8 is formed from metal and preferably steel and is effectively sealed against the corrosive action of the acid pickling solution by means of the rubber lining 36 and the lining 36 is protected against abrasion or damage by the strip material being treated by means of the lining 38. Accordingly, it is of little importance whether the lining 38 is impervious to the passage of the pickling solution or not.

Each tank I8 is provided with a removable cover indicated generally at 40. Each cover 40 is of partially cylindrical formation positioned with its 'concave side facing downwardly and its end portions resting upon the upper edges of the lining 38 along the side of the tank. It will be understood that the covers extend substantially the full length of the tanks I8. Each cover 46 is preferably formed from sheets or plates 42 of metal and are reinforced along their marginal side edges by means of suitable angles 44 secured to the outer face thereof along such side edges and preferably by the addition of other longiludinally extending angle members such as 46 secured at intervals over the width of the cover. Additionally, transversely extending angle members such as 48 may be provided on the outer surface of the plates 42 at the ends\ and at intervals over the length of the cover 40 to further stiiien the construction. A rubber lining 56 completely masks the inner surface of the plates 42 and as indicated in Fig. 2 this rubber lining extends outwardly over the marginal side edges of the cover 48 in completely embracing relationship with respect to the side angles 44. Accordingly, the same degree of protection against the corrosive action of the pickling solution is afforded the cover 48 by means of its lining 5U as is afforded each tank I8 by its lining 36.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4 the covers 48 terminate a short distance from the corresponding end of the corresponding tank I8 particularly for the reason that rolls such as 56 extending. over substantially the full width of the tanks I8 and slightly above the upper edges thereof are provided between each pair of adjacent tanks I8 for the purpose of guiding the strip material which is indicated generally at 58 in Fig. 1, over the end walls of the tanks. Accordingly, a housing indicated generally at 60 is provided to house the roll- .ers 56 and to bridge the adjacent ends of adjacent covers 48. As in the case of the tanks IB and the covers 40 the housing 60 is formed from metal plates suitably lined on their inner surfaces with rubber. As best indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, each housing comprises side plates 62, and end plates 64 which are suitably apertured for the passage of the strip material 58 therethrough, and a removable top plate `66. The side plates 62 and end plate 64 are provided with an` angle member 68 secured to the inner faces thereof around the up er marginal edges thereof, and all members of t e housing 68 thus described are provided with a rubber lining 10 extending over all free edges thereof in a manner similar to that described in connection withvthe covers 48 and tanks I8.

Extending longitudinally and centrally of the series of tanks I8 and suitably supported upon the floor I0' below them is a duct indicated generally at 14. Although this duct may be of any desired cross-sectional configuration, as a matter of illustration it is shown rectangular in section and similarly to the tanks I8 is formed from sheets of metal to provide a bottom wall 16, side walls 18 and top wall 80. The bottom wall 16 and side walls 18 are preferably welded to on'e another and are provided at their adjacent edges with angles 82 to stiften the connection between them. The upper edges of the side walls 18 are preferably outwardly fianged as at 84 to provide a'seat of ample area for reception of the top wall 88 thereon and which top wall is removably secured thereto in any suitable manner. A rubber lining 86 is provided for the bottom wall 16, and side walls 18 and as indicated in Fig. 2 extends outwardly over and around the ange 84. The top wall 80 is lined on' its lower side with a rubber lining 88 which extends outwardly up and over theouter marginal edges thereof as indicated. If desired, as indicated, in Fig. 1 the duct 14 may be of varying or stepped eross-sectionalarea from one end thereof to the other and the lower wall 86 thereof inclined downwardly toward the smaller end thereof so as to effect drainage of liquid fed thereinto towards-the small end. Also ras indicated in Fig. l the duct 14 will usually be ryingsuch vapors away to some remote point and there discharging them. In order to discharge duct 14 will flow by gravity therethrough towards the lefthand end thereof as viewed in Fig. l from which they will be discharged into a sewer such as 98 or other suitable point of discharge, collection and/or treatment. The liquid discharge end of the duct 14 is preferably turned downwardly and that portion of the sewer 98 which receives it so constructed and arranged that such downwardly turned end of the duct 14 projects below the normal level 99 of the liquid in the sewer, so that a liquid seal for such end is provided. i

. 'I'he righthand end of the duct 14 is connected, directly or indirectly, with the intake side of a fan |08 adapted to discharge its contents at a point, for instance. such as up a chimney, where the corrosive gas content thereof will produce no injurious effect. In order to withdraw air from the surface of the tanks I8 and deliver them to the-duct 14 for passage to the fan |80 the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided. As indicated in these figures, between the adjacent ends of each pair of tanks I8 a somewhat funnel-shaped branch or duct indicated generally at IIII is provided. At its upper end each member III! is of substantially the same width asthe cover 60 positioned thereabove it and at its lower endis preferably of slightly less width than the width of the corresponding portion of the duct 14 into which it is connected. As illustrated in Fig. 4 its thickness is generally less than the distance between the adjacent edges of adjacent plates 32 so asto permit it to be removably inserted between the ends of adjacent tanks I8.

The member IIIJ is preferably formed from sheet `metal ormetal plates and is provided with a lining II2 of rubber in the same general manner as the parts heretofore described. In order to receivethe lower end of each member IID the top plate 80 of the duct 14 immediately therebelow is provided with an opening II4 therein and outwardly spaced from the inner margin of such opening is provided with an upstanding collar member II6 integrally secured thereto as by welding. The lining 88 for the cover 80 is extended up over the margins of the opening II4 and upwardly and over the collar II6 so as to substantially mask the same. The lower end of the member IIIi is inwardly flanged as at II8 and the lining II2 extended downwardly around the lower edge thereof so as to substantially cornpletely mask such lower edge and so as to provide a rubber to rubber contact between the lower end of each member Illl and the upper face of the cover member 8U and Acorresponding collar II6 when the lower end of the member is telescopically received therein as shown.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 the front and rear upper marginal edges of the member III) are outwardly flared and their marginal portions formed to provide an outwardlyprojecting downwardly opening channel portion |20 and the rubber lining of a pipe line 9B with the duct 14. The liquid contents of the tanks I8 thus discharged into the 2 ||2 is extended so as to completely mask the outer marginal edge portion of the portions |20. The height of the members are preferably such that the members ||0 are suspended from the adjacent ends of the tanks |8 through contact of the portions |20 with the outer upper marginal edge portions of the plates 32, thus providing a rubber to rubber contact along these lines of contact. 'I'he upper marginal side walls of the members ||0, as indicated in Fig. 3, are left plain or unbent and the rubber lining ||2 is extended over the same in masking relation as indicated. No seal is required at these points between the sides of the members ||0 and the corresponding covers 60 for the reason that a relatively strong suction is present at this area which leffectively prevents the escape of corrosive gases 'at these points. A Accordingly, it will be recognized that the area between the upper faces of the adjacent ends of the tanks I8 is sealed` to the corresponding member ||0 which discharges directly into the duct 14 so that the suction which is transmitted from the fan |00 to the interior of the various members |0 tends to suck corrosive gases or vapors from both the adjacent tanks I8 and to conduct such gases or vapors to the duct 14.

In order to equalize the .suction between the various members |0 it may be desirable, at least in certain instances, to vary the effective crosssectional area of the discharge end of the members ||0. One means of accomplishing this is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which it will be noted that an apertured plate member indicated generally at |30 is shown resting upon the inwardly turned flanges ||8 at the bottom of the member ||0. This plate member |30 may be constructed of sheet metal and completely encased in a rubber covering |32 in order to protect it from the corrosive effects of the pickling vapors being withdrawn through the member ||0. The size of the apertures in the plate members |30 may be varied between the various members ||0 in order to modify the effective suction in each member ||0 and thereby enable the suction over all of such members to be equalized or otherwise controlled.

The same effect may also be obtained by the means illustrated in Fig. in which it will be noted that instead of employing an apertured plate such as |30 in Fig. 3, a damper member |40 is provided in the reduced lower end portion of the member ||0 and is provided with an operating shaft |42 extending to the exterior of the member ||0 and by means of which the rotatable position of the damper |40 may be readily controlled to vary the suction effect within'.

the member ||0. It will be understood, of course, that the damper member |40 will preferably be completely encased in rubber in much the same manner as the member |30 just described.

The results of the above described construction is that all parts of the pickling tanks and their co-operating apparatus are formed primarily from steel or other suitable metal that may be readily rendered absolutely leakproo-f and free from danger of cracking, breaking or the like as occurs in brick pickling-tank structures.

and also that all surfaces, joints and the like of such sheet metal or metal plates are protected by a covering or lining of rubber impervious to the action of the pickling acid and so arranged as to protect all metallic parts against the corrosive effects of the pickling vapor wherever such vapor is liable to escape. Additionally, the drainage duct` 14 for carrying away the waste pickling liquid, as well as for carrying away the corrosive vapors from lthe surfaces of the pickling tank il located below the pickling tank where it does not restrict the use of otherwise available floor space and in a position where it is notreadily observed and the branch ducts |0 are so located as to be eifective in operation and substantially hidden from view. The result of the entire construction is that an apparatus of the type described is provided that is simple and eifective in operation, relatively free from service troubles, involves the use of a minimum amount of iioor space and is sightly in appearance.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of Which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a plurality of pickling tanks arranged in end to end and spaced relation, each of said tanks being formed from metal, a rubber lining for each of said tanks extending in embracing relation withrespect to the marginal edges thereof, a conduit extending below said tanks, said conduit being formed from metal, a rubber lining for said conduit, branch conduits extending from the rst mentioned conduit upwardly therefrom between the adjacent ends of adjacent said tanks and removably suspended from theV upper edge portions of the ends of the said adjacent tanks, said branch conduits being formed from metal, a rubber lining for said branch conduits extending into embracing relationship with respect to the upper ends of said branch conduits, hood means overlying said tanks and said branch ducts, and means for withdrawing air through the rst mentioned conduit.

2. In combination with a plurality of pickling tanks arranged in end to end and generally spaced relation with respect -to each other, a conduit positioned below said tanks and extending longitudinally thereof, said conduit being inclined whereby liquid introduced thereinto Will flow by gravity toward one end thereof, means for discharging the contents of said tanks into said conduit, means including a branch conduit interposed between adjacent ends of said tanks opening into the iirst mentioned conduit at the lower end thereof and having the upper end operatively associated with the upper marginal portions of co-operating tanks, a rubber lining for said branch conduit, cover meanssubstantially enclosing the tops of said tanks and serving as ducts to conduct vapors from said tanks to the upper ends of said branch conduit, and means operatively connected to that end of the rst mentioned conduit opposite that towards which said liquid drains for withdrawing air therefrom.

3. In combination, a plurality of pickling tanks arranged in end to end and generally spaced relation, a conduit positioned below said tanks, and means including a branch conduit located between the adjacent ends of said tanks for conducting vapors from the surfaces of said tanks to the rst mentioned conduit, said branch conduit having tlescopicengagement with the first mentioned conduit and having an outwardly flared upper end engaging the upper adjacent end surfaces of the tanks and supporting the weight of said branch conduit through said engagement.

4. In combination, a plurality of pickling tanks arranged in end to end and generally spaced relation, a conduit extending longitudinally of said tanks therebelow, said conduit having an opening in the upper wall thereof in substantial vertical alignment with the space between adjacent ends of the tanks, an upstanding collar surrounding said opening, a `layer of rubber overlying the inner surface of said collar and extending over the free marginal edge thereof, a branch conduit extending from said opening upwardly between the ends of the tanks and opening adjacent the upper edges of said tanks, said branch conduit being formedfrom sheet metal, a rubber lining for said branch conduit, said rubber lining embracing the free marginal edges of said branch conduit, the lower end of said branch conduit being telescopically received in said collar and the upper end of said branch conduit being supported upon the upper edges of said adjacent ends of the tanks.

5. In combination, a plurality of pickling tanks arranged' in generally end to end and spaced relationship,l a conduit disposed below and extending longitudinally of said tanks, means substantially enclosing the tops of said tanks, means communicating the space above said tanks and below the first mentioned means with said conduit comprising branch conduits operatively connected at their lower end to the first mentioned conduit and extending upwardly therefrom between adiacent ends of adjacent tanks and opening Vadjacent the upper edges of adjacent tanks, said branch conduits being formedfrom metal and removably suspended upon said tanks, a rubber lining for each of said branch conduits, and

said rubber lining enclosing the upper marginal edge portions of said branch conduits and bearing against the upper marginal portion of the adjacent end walls of corresponding adjacent tanks, and means operatively associated with each of said branch conduits operable to vary the eiective cross-sectional area thereof.

6. In combination, a plurality of pickling tanks arranged in generally end to end and spaced relationship, a conduit disposed below and extending longitudinally of said tanks, means substantially enclosing the tops of said tanks, means communicating the space above said tanks and below the first mentioned means with said conduit comprising branch conduits operatively connected at their` lower end to the first mentioned conduit and' extending upwardly therefrom between adjacent ends of adjacent tanks and opening adjacent the upper edges of adjacent tanks, said branch conduits being formed from metal and being removably suspended upon said tanks, a rubber lining for each of said branch conduits, and said rubber lining enclosing the upper marginal edge portions of said conduits and bearing vagainst the upper marginal portion of the adjacent end walls of corresponding adjacent tanks,

and means comprising apertured plate members received lin said branch conduits and forming orice ,members for 'the flow of uid therethrough.

JULIUS A. CLAUSS. DONALD E. MCGUIRE. 

